Five local high school students from the CS Monroe Technology Center, who will be competing in this year’s National ProStart Invitational, are being mentored by Jordan Lichman, the dean of Culinary Arts and Hospitality at Stratford University. The dean, who has helped the students polish their eco-friendly menu, polish their verbal presentation, and adjust the layout their kitchen design, will meet with the students again on the morning of April 25 & 27.

“They are an incredibly dedicated, talented, and astute group of students who are taking their passion for great local, organic, and seasonal foods and designing a very realistic quick casual restaurant concept around it,” explains Dean Lichman. “It’s been a pleasure working with them because they not only have great ideas, they’ve dedicated the time and developed the computer and design skills to win.”

The mentoring that the students have been receiving will help them in their quest to win the management competition in the National ProStart Invitational. The competition includes creating a restaurant proposal, giving a verbal presentation, and demonstrating how they would address day-to-day challenges in the field. Teams compete for a chance to win awards and scholarships for going on into a foodservice or restaurant industry career. In 2010, the competition provided $1.4 million in scholarships to culinary and management teams.

The National ProStart Invitational is its 10th year, with this years competition being held April 29-May 1, 2011, in Overland Park, Kan. There will be over 40 teams from all over the country competing.

“As someone who has worked in education, early stage venture capital, organic farming, start-up restaurants, and luxury hospitality, I am very confident in the CS Monroe team’s ability to win the National Competition later this month,” adds Dean Lichman.

Stratford University offers 31 degree and non-degree programs, including non-degree culinary workshops. They also offer a variety of degrees in culinary arts and hospitality management. Degrees offered include advanced culinary arts, baking and pastry arts, hotel and restaurant management, and hospitality management. Many programs are offered completely online.